The Effects of Andrographis paniculata on Platelet Activity in Healthy Thai Volunteers.

Tichapa Sirikarin,Suveerawan Limsuvan,Pravit Akarasereenont,Sirikul Chotewuttakorn,Titchaporn Palo,Weerawadee Chandranipapongse

doi:10.1155/2018/2458281

Abstract

Background. Andrographis paniculata (AP) has been used in Thai traditional medicine to treat various infections, including the common cold and fever. Its bioactive compound, andrographolide, has shown antiplatelet activities in an in vitro study model. Since clinical studies of the effects of AP on the human platelet function have never been reported, we investigated its effect on platelet activity in ten healthy volunteers. Methods. Two grams of AP was taken 3 times within one day. The blood was withdrawn by venipuncture before and 2 and 24 hours after the AP administration to analyze the effects of AP on platelet aggregation, the expression of enzyme cyclooxygenase (COX) mRNA and protein, and TXB2, including P-selectin. Result. Even though there was no significant change in the studied parameters, this study exhibited patient-to-patient variability in platelet function. It was found that ADP-induced platelet aggregation tended to decrease after AP administration, while epinephrine-induced platelet aggregation in females tended to be higher than that in males for the entire study period. Moreover, COX-1 mRNA levels tended to decrease while P-selectin levels tended to rise after AP administration. Conclusion. These controversial results are possibly due to the multifactorial mechanisms of platelet aggregation as well as the multichemical composition of AP. Further study, probably at the molecular level, is needed to unveil the underlying mechanisms of action of AP.

Highlights

There are still no clinical studies on the effects of A. paniculata on human platelet aggregation. This preliminary study is planned to evaluate the effects of A. paniculata on platelet activity, in particular, on platelet aggregation induced by a panel of agonists in healthy volunteers
After Andrographis paniculata (AP) administration, these patterns as well as the average of the percentage of aggregation induced by a panel agonist did not change for either females or males for the duration of the study, even though individual subjects showed minor changes in their platelet aggregations (Figure 1)
After AP administration, platelet counts of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) were in the range 3.55.7x108 /mL and 2.8-5.0x108/mL at 2 hours and 24 hours, respectively

Summary

Introduction

A. paniculata is well known as Fa-Tha-Lai Chon in Thailand It was included in the National List of Essential Medicines 2013 as a relief for the symptoms of the common cold and noninfectious diarrhea [2]. The active compounds of A. paniculata have exhibited therapeutic effects in many clinical and experimental studies [3]. Andrographolide is one of the major active compounds of A. paniculata., playing an important role in the inflammatory process and cyclooxygenase (COX) enzyme expression [4, 5]. There are still no clinical studies on the effects of A. paniculata on human platelet aggregation. The blood was withdrawn by venipuncture before and 2 and 24 hours after the AP administration to analyze the effects of AP on platelet aggregation, the expression of enzyme cyclooxygenase (COX) mRNA and protein, and TXB2, including P-selectin. Probably at the molecular level, is needed to unveil the underlying mechanisms of action of AP

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion